Khao Lak: Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour with Chef Wandee

Summary

Thai flavors come alive in Khao Lak’s open-air kitchen with Chef Wandee

You’ll wander Khao Lak’s lively market with Chef Wandee, picking out herbs and seafood for your own Thai dishes. Back in her bamboo garden kitchen, you’ll cook (and taste) everything yourself — from curry pastes to pomelo salad — with plenty of laughs and tips along the way. Expect hands-on learning, local flavors, and stories you’ll remember long after lunch ends.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the sound — that soft clatter of knives against wooden boards, and somewhere behind me, a vendor calling out prices in the Khao Lak market. Our guide, Wandee, didn’t rush us. She let us poke around, sniffing handfuls of kaffir lime leaves and poking at glossy eggplants I’d never seen before. She laughed when I tried to say “pomelo” in Thai — I’m still not sure I got it right. The air smelled like lemongrass and motorbikes, if that makes sense.

Back at her garden kitchen (the bamboo hut is real, not just for show), we each had our own little station. There was something calming about grinding curry paste by hand — my arms complained but the colors were wild: red chilies, green herbs, yellow turmeric staining my fingers. Wandee circled around, giving tips or just watching us muddle through. She told stories about working as a chef in Iceland (“so cold!” she said) and how coconut milk here tastes different because it’s so fresh. I believed her after the first spoonful.

I didn’t expect to get so into shaping those sticky rice balls for dessert — they kept slipping away from me and ended up all sorts of lumpy, but nobody cared. Lunch was what we cooked ourselves: deep-fried pork wrapped with lemongrass (still dreaming about that crunch), fish curry with coconut milk from the market, pomelo salad bright with lime and chili oil. We ate outside while cicadas buzzed somewhere overhead and Wandee answered every question we threw at her. I left full but also sort of lighter — maybe it was the garden air or just laughing at myself trying to use a mortar properly.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Thai cooking class and market visit

• Pick up from hotel
• Visit local fresh market
• Learn about Thai ingredients
• Shop at the market
• Cook using market ingredients
• Make curry pastes from scratch
• Cook traditional Thai dishes
• Participate in Q&A session

Top questions

What time does the Thai cooking class in Khao Lak start?

Morning classes pick up between 9:30 - 10:00 AM; afternoon classes between 3:00 - 3:30 PM.

Is hotel pickup included for this Khao Lak cooking class?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included within the Khaolak area.

Will we visit a local market during the class?

Yes, there’s a guided tour of a local fresh market before cooking begins.

Who teaches the cooking class in Khao Lak?

The class is led by Chef Wandee Rathanapan, featured on Amazon Prime’s “The World Cook.”

Are vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Yes, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes can be prepared on request.

Is this Thai cooking class suitable for children?

Yes, children are welcome as long as they’re accompanied by an adult.

Do we cook our own food during the class?

Yes, each guest has their own station to prepare dishes from scratch using market ingredients.

Is lunch included in this Khao Lak cooking class?

Yes, lunch consists of the dishes you prepare during the session.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle from anywhere in Khaolak, a guided stroll through the local fresh market with Chef Wandee herself (she knows everyone), all ingredients for your chosen menu including seafood or veggie options if needed, your own equipped cooking station under a bamboo hut in her garden kitchen, bottled water throughout the experience and a full lunch made by your own hands before heading back relaxed and well-fed.